Oil burner



May 23, 1933. P; SCHAEFER OIL BURNER Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23, 1933. SCHAEFER 1,911,090

OIL BURNER Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 PAUL SGHAEFER, OF CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS OIL BURNER Application filed. May 18,

My invention relates more particularly to oil burners using preferably gas oil, and more especially so-called distillate, or lighter fuel, supplied to the burner by gravity.

'7 5 Certain of my objects are to provide a which shall be adapted for the rapid change from a low flame to a high flame without danger of flooding or the production of a smoky flame; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in broken sectional elevation of the lower portion of a furnace equipped with an oil burner constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken at the irregular line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of an atomizing oil-spreading member forming a part of the burner structure; and

Figure 4:, a plan view of a portion of the burner located below the member of Fig. 3 and cooperating therewith to spread the oil. Referring to the particular construction hown, the fire pot of a furnace is represented at 5, the bottom of this fire pot being formed of a ring member 6 having a depending, annular, sleeve-forming flange 7 shown as integrally formed with the member 6 and depending from the central opening 8 therein.

The sleeve member 7 is provided adjacent its upper end with an annular series of openings 9 the inner ends of which preferably incline upwardly and inwardly as repre sented, the inner surface of the sleeve being preferably provided with an-annular bead 10 preferably of the cross sectional contour shown and through which the inner ends of the openings 9 open through the sleeve. The openings 9 which form supplemental air in- 1929. Serial No. 364,167.

lets for the burner and which function as hereinafter described are controllable by any suitable means, as for example by the split band represented at 11 and controlled by clamp-means shown at 7a.

The band 11 is confined on the outer periphery of the sleeve 7, to be rotatably adjusted thereon, this band containing openings 12 of the same size, and spaced apart the same distance, as in the case of the openings 9, whereby upon rotatably adjusting the ring 11 the passage of air through the wall of the sleeve 7 may be regulated as desired and entirely shut off if conditions render it desirable.

The structure also comprises a pan 13 supported on legs 14, this pan being of larger diameter than the sleeve 7 and arranged concentrically thereof, with its upper edge extending above the lower edge of the sleeve 7.

Mounted centrally in the sleeve 7 is a member 15 preferably of circular form and of a diameter considerably smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 7, the upper 7 surface of the member 15 being preferably concaved as represented at 16.

The member 15 is shown as supported by a pipe 17 which opens at its upper end through the concave surface 16 of the mem- 30 her 15, the lower end of this pipe being screwed into a vertical opening 18 in the bottom of the pan 13, the opening 18 being connected with a pipe 19 leading from any suitable source of fuel oil supply, not shown, 5 and preferably having interposed therein any suitable means, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, for automatically controlling the oil level in the member 15 to prevent overflow.

The burner structure also comprises a circular member 20 mounted on the member 15 to extend above the latter, the undersurface 21 of the member 20, which is shown as of smaller diameter than the diameter of the member 15, being of convex form. The member 20 is supported to extend at its convex surface 21in vertically spaced relation to, and concentric with, the concave surface 16 of the member 15. Any desirable means may be provided for thus supporting the member 20 such as for example the depend ing bosses 22 on the member 20 which ex tend into an annular groove 23 in the upper surface of the member 15.

The space referred to and represented at 2% and which practice indicates should be preferably not more than about one-eighth of an inch in height throughout its extent and with the smaller sizes of burners less than one-eighth inch, is provided to receive the oil supplied to the burner through the pipe 19. The member 20 which, in the particular construction shown, extends into the cavity presented by the member 15, extends upwardly through the opening 8 in the sleeve 6 to a point above this sleeve, its side surface, represented at 25, throughout its extent curving upwardly and outwardly as shown.

In the operation of the burner the fuel oil is supplied through the pipe 19 to the space between the members 15 and 20 where it spreads out in all directions from the center of the member 15 in a relatively thin layer, the heat of the member 20 produced by the burner in operating, vaporizing the oil and causing the vapor thus produced to mix with air flowing upwardly around the pan 13 and thence downwardly into the latter and under the wall of the sleeve 7 and upwardly through the sleeve, the inflammable mixture burning around the member 20 and adjacent the head 15. Supplemental air is permitted, under the control of the operator, to flow through the openings 9 when such is needed to produce perfect combustion.

It will be understood from the foregoing that inasmuch as the oil supplied to the burner is caused to spread out in a comparatively thin layer as stated where it is subjected to vaporizing heat, the structure is adapted for effecting the desired vaporization of the fuel even when the flow of the fuel to the member 15 is rapidly increased to an extent sufficient to cause a high flame to be produced at the burner, and thus flooding of the burner, with the manifest disadvantages, is prevented. Furthermore, the flame produced, whether high or low, will be free of unconsumed carbon, and both of these results are produced under relatively light draft thereby avoiding the necessity of employing a high stack or a short one sup plemented by forced air pressure.

The provision of the bead 10 arranged as described and shown is of advantage inasmuch as by its presence the air is caused to eddy within the sleeve 7 adjacent the openings 9, thus producing suction at these openings and augmenting the flow of air therethrough and into the burner.

The pan 13 serves to receive oil overflowing from the burner, should overflow occur,

as for example where the oil is supplied to the member 15 and failure to ignite the same occurs, a drain pipe 26 leading from the bottom of this pan to any desired point of discharge.

Under some conditions of use to which I contemplate placing my burner apparatus, it is necessary to produce a very low flame which requires that the oil be supplied to the member 15 at such a low rate that the 'oil and member 15 will not extend into contact with the member in the operation of the burner. Where the burner is to be used under such conditions it is desirable that the member 20 be provided with a depending portion, such as the boss shown at 20a and preferably conical as represented which extends into the body of oil beneath it and because of the heated condition of this boss aids in vaporizing the oil.

As will be noted, the bottom, surface of the vaporizer 20 is of less diameter than the member 15 whereby the latter extends laterally outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the vaporizer 20. This feature is of advantage inasmuch as the upward flow of air currents past the outer edge of the member 15 results in the eddying of such currents in a direction inwardly toward the vaporizer 20 which is an important factor in avoiding the production of smoke and insuring even operation of the burner.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, anddesire to secure member having an oil passage opening through its upper surface, a vaporizer above said member and vertically spaced therefrom, said member extending laterally outwardly beyond the bottom surface of said vaporizer, and a ring surrounding, and spaced from, said lower surface to provide an air passage, there being supplemental passages in said ring below the top of said vaporizer for directing air toward the side wall of said vaporizer.

3. An oil burner structure comprising a member having an oil passage opening through its upper surface, a vaporizer above said member and vertically spaced therefrom, said member extending laterally outwardly beyond the bottom surface of said vaporizer and the side Wall of said vaporizer flaring upwardly and outwardly, and a ring surrounding, and spaced from, said lower surface to provide an air passage, said ring havin an apertured portion above its lower edge and provided on its inner surface with an inwardly extending projection below its apertured portion operating to effect eddying of air rising through said ring and consequent suction at said apertured portion of said ring.

PAUL SCHAEFER. 

